The Science of Monsters

Prior to the murders inspired by Child’s Play 3 there were already laws in place to try to protect the public from the perceived danger of media. “Video nasties” in the UK were a list of essentially banned or censored films in order to spare the public from excessive violence. The Video Recordings Act of 1984 put stricter censorship requirements on movies being released on video than in cinemas. Banned films included The Evil Dead (1981) starring Bruce Campbell and the Italian horror movie Cannibal Holocaust (1980). Only decades later were films like The Exorcist (1973) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) finally able to be released uncut in the UK.

Horror film protests didn’t just happen overseas. Groups protested many movies in the US including Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). The story followed a boy who witnessed his parents’ murder at the hands of someone dressed as Santa Claus. The character grows up to go on his own killing spree at Christmas time. Concerned parents and critics were afraid of children seeing Santa Claus portrayed in such a violent light. Protesters thought the movie would traumatize children and undermine their traditional trust in the mythical figure. Advertising for the film was stopped six days prior to its release and the movie itself had a shortened run due to public outrage.

The Chucky doll in Child’s Play may not have been delivered by an evil Santa as a Christmas present, but was possessed by an evil person in the film. The character of Charles Lee Ray was a conglomeration of three famous killers: Charles Manson, Lee Harvey Oswald, and James Earl Ray. Charles Manson was a serial killer and cult leader who gained notoriety in the 1960s. Lee Harvey Oswald was the accused killer of President John F. Kennedy, and James Earl Ray was the convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr. The character of Charles Lee Ray’s past is explored a bit throughout the Child’s Play franchise and it’s revealed that he, too, is a killer.

While the science on possessed dolls isn’t readily available, we wanted to know how detectives would determine if a Chucky doll could be the killer at a crime scene. We spoke to Timothy Koivunen, Chief of Police and former detective in Eveleth, Minnesota to find out more:

Kelly:“What are some things you look for when you arrive at a crime scene?”

Police Chief Koivunen: “Some of the first things we consider on any call or complaint is to protect the scene at all costs. We will block off a perimeter usually larger at first as we can always lessen or make it smaller. Before entering the scene, consider who may have already entered the scene (witnesses, the reporting party or caller, ambulance, fire, police, family, friends, bystanders, or simply nosey people). If we determine it a crime scene, a log sheet is always started for those who enter and exit as well as who they are and the times. Foot or shoe prints may have to be taken and documented. This is simply just to enter or approach the scene. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) may be called, and we would protect the scene or assist the BCA. We are constantly scanning and looking for anything out of the ordinary such as blood, signs of struggle, broken or misplaced items, weapons of any kind, or any other evidence that may be pertinent. Then, we would also attempt to locate and interview any and all witnesses, suspects, neighbors, or anyone who may have heard, seen, or have knowledge of the victim(s).”

Meg:“What evidence would you use to determine a criminal’s height?”

Police Chief Koivunen: “Besides blood spatter to determine the height of a suspect, we may use the location and angle of the wounds or trauma of the victim and maybe defensive wounds on the victim. Also, any witnesses obviously could shed some potential height of the suspect or any surveillance video that may be obtained. We currently have a missing female from a few years ago and had the BCA lab come in and luminal the entire house where she was staying to see if there was any blood evidence. Thankfully, nothing was found.”

Kelly:“How do you think crime scene analysis has changed over the past decade? Where do you see it improving in the future?”